Michigan Wild-foraged Mushroom Certification Requirements
Although a food establishment license may not be required to forage and sell wild mushrooms, Michigan's Food Code requires that mushroom species picked in the wild must be obtained from sources where each mushroom is individually inspected and found to be safe by a certified mushroom identification expert. Working closely with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), a curriculum to train and certify foragers who commercially harvest and sell wild mushrooms in Michigan has been developed by Midwest American Mycological Information (MAMI), the Institute for Sustainable Living, Art & Natural Design (ISLAND), and the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA).
- List of Michigan Certified Mushroom Identification Experts (Updated after each course)
- Department of Natural Resources: Morel Mushroom Hunting
Become an Expert
The Midwest American Mycological Information (MAMI) offers a workshop program that, if successfully completed, will qualify you as an expert mushroom identifier who can then legally sell wild-foraged mushrooms in Michigan. Once the workshop has been successfully completed, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will provide certification for people to lawfully broker select wild-foraged Michigan mushrooms.
Workshops provide the opportunity to:
- Become familiar with species of wild mushrooms allowed to be collected and sold in Michigan;
- Become familiar with regulations regarding the sale of wild-foraged mushrooms in Michigan;
- Meet with mycologists; and,
- Review mushroom biology and identification.
The courses offered by MAMI are:
- Michigan Wild-foraged Morel Mushroom Certification (online only)
- Michigan Wild-foraged Mushroom Certification (in-person only)
- Recertification for the full certification (online or in-person)
Wild mushrooms, like morels and chanterelles, help define the forests of Michigan and provide potential income streams for foragers, farmers, restaurateurs, and food entrepreneurs. But improperly identified, wild mushrooms can also pose serious health risks.